Jig for use in constructing building units



June 12, 1956 c. A. HUFFMAN 2,749,873

JIG FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING BUILDING UNITS Filed March 2-, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Chesfer A. Huffman HG FGR USE IN CONSTRUCTINGBUILDING UNITS Chester A. Huffman, Elkh'art, Ind.

Application March 2, 1954', SerialNo. 413,506"

3 Claims. (Cl. 144-288).

This invention relates to an apparatus for constructing building units.

The primary object of the presentinvention resides in the provision of a jig for use in constructing the building units.

The construction of this invention features means for guidingly holding structural members in spacedand predetermined relationship while forming a platform for supporting panels after the structural membershave been secured to each other, anda-panel has been secured to the structural members.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an apparatus for constructing building units which enables building units to be produced in a minimum period of time while being highly accurate in their dimensions, which reduces the necessary labor in the construction of the building units by eliminating the necessity of otherwise supporting the elements of the building units; and which is simple and easy to utilize.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this jig for construction of building units, a preferred embodiment of the jig being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the jig, showing the structural members of a building unit in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the jig;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a supporting guide forming one of the elements of the jig;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another form of supporting guide which may be adjusted in order to construct various forms of building units;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a supporting guide having enlarged vertical dimensions and which is adapted to be installed in the corners of the jig for providing a stop for the panels; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of yet another form of supporting guide incorporated in the jig.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates the jig comprising the present invention which includes a base plate 12 having installed thereon a plurality of different forms of supporting guides.

One of the supporting guides, as is most clearly illus trated in Figure 4 and generally indicated by reference numeral 14, includes a pair of substantially horizontally extending portions 16 and 18 interconnected by a vertically extending portion 20, the supporting guide 14 therefore being of substantially channel shape. The horizontally extending portion 16 is adapted to engage the base plate 12 while the upper horizontally extending portion 18 is adapted to form in conjunction with other of the supporting guides a supporting platform.

nitcd States Patent() 4 2,749,873 Patented June 12,1956

The supporting guides 22, such as illustrated in Figure 5, also include substantially horizontally extending portions 24 and 2d interconnected by a vertically extending portion. 23. However, the supporting guide 22 is not permanently fixed to the plate 12, but is detachably secured by any suitable fastener, such as indicated by reference numeral 30.

Referring now to'the supporting guide shown in Figure 6,-it will be noted that herein the supporting guide 32 hasa vertically extending portion 34 of considerably greater dimensions than the vertical supporting portions 20 and 28. The vertical supporting portion 34 interconnects horizontally extending portions 36 and 38, and attached to the vertically extending portion 34 is a flange 40 forming a limit stop for-the building unit to be constructed on the jig, 10. Theflange 40 may be welded or otherwise attached to the vertically extending portion 34 of the supporting guide 32.

The supportingguide of'the-type-illustrated in Figure 7 and generally designated by reference numeral 42, is in the form of a channel shape, with an upper horizontal supporting portion 44 supported by downwardly extend ing legs 46 and 48. A-stop'block 50 is secured to and carried by the upper supporting portion 44. The supportingguides 42 are arranged along one'side of the jig 10.

In forming a building unit of the type disclosed in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 341,010, new Patent No. 2,716,261, for Building Construction, supporting members, such as the studs S and horizontal frame members H are positioned in the jig 10. The studs S are held in spaced relationship by contact with the vertically extending portions 20 and 28 of the supporting guides 14 and 22, respectively, as are the frame members H. The interlocking frame elements F and G, respectively, which are, of course, of lesser thickness than the studs S or frame elements H, are then positioned with the frame element F being received between the adjacent supporting guides 14 and 22. Thus, the lower surface of the frame element F will lie flush with the lower surfaces of the studs S and frame members H.

The frame element G is then positioned on the supporting surfaces 44 of the supporting guides 42 in abutting engagement with the blocks 50. The supporting guides 42 are of sufficient height so that the upper surface of the frame element G will lie flush with the upper surfaces of the studs S and frame members H. After the structural members have been positioned on the jig 10, they are nailed or otherwise secured to each other, after which a first panel in the form of a precut section of wall sheathing or siding is positioned thereover and held in aligned position by the supporting guides 32. Then, this panel may be secured to the structural members after which the entire assembly can be removed from the jig it), overturned, and then placed upon the jig 10 with the corners of the panel being guided by the supporting guides 32 and with the panel resting on the horizontal supporting portions 18 and 26 of the supporting guides 14 and 22. Then, a second panel can be secured to the structural members to complete the wall element.

It is to be recognized that the jig can be used for constructing panels having door or Window openings therein while being further adapted for the assemblage of doors of various widths and windows of various sizes. Frame members for door openings are generally indicated by reference letter D and frame members for window openings as well as bottom trimmers for windows are generally designated by reference letter W.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the in vention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A jig for use in constructing building units comprising a rectangular base plate having a plurality of upwardly extending supporting guides of channel shape, said guides having pairs of horizontally extending portions interconnected by vertically extending portions, said vertically extending portions forming stop guides for structural members, one of the horizontally extending portions of each of said pairs of horizontally extending portions engaging said base plate while the other of said horizontally extending portions forms a supporting platform.

- 2. A jig for use in constructing building units comprising a rectangular base plate having a plurality of upwardly extending supporting guides of channel shape, said guides having pairs of horizontally extending portions interconnected by vertically extending portions, said vertically extending portions forming stop guides for structural members, one of the horizontally extending portions of each of said pairs of horizontally extending portions engaging said base plate while the other of said horizontally extending portions forms a supporting platform, and other supporting guides secured to said base plate of greater vertical dimensions than said first recited supporting guides, said other supporting guides being secured at the corners of said rectangular base plate.

3. A jig for use in constructing building units comprising a rectangular base plate having a plurality of upwardly extending supporting guides of channel shape, said guides having pairs of horizontally extending portions interconnected by vertically extending portions, said vertically extending portions forming stop guides for structural members, one of the horizontally extending portions of each of said pairs of horizontally extending portions engaging said base plate while the other of said horizontally extending portions forms a supporting platform, and other supporting guides secured to said base plate of greater vertical dimensions than said first recited supporting guides, said other supporting guides being secured at the corners of said rectangular base plate, and additional supporting guides attached to said base plate having horizontal portions disposed below said others of said horizontally extending portions, said additional supporting guides being adapted to maintain structural members of reduced vertical dimensions flush with other structural members engaging said first recited supporting guides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,262,827 Wilson, Jr. et al Nov. 18, 1941 2,353,954 Dufiy July 18, 1944 2,362,162 Sheldon Nov. 7, 1944 2,662,565 Le Vay Dec. 15, 1953 

